B.C. Budget Risks Water, Environment

Eliminating regulations for B.C.’s expanding mining projects will jeopardize water and wildlife and lead to increased community concern and conflict, Sierra Club BC warns following the B.C. budget. The government will spend $24 million to reduce the turnaround time for mineral exploration permits, but not a penny more to ensure robust environmental assessment capacity.

The budget, released February 21, earmarks $24 million to reduce the turnaround time for mineral exploration permits as the government focuses on eliminating “unnecessary regulations” for B.C.’s rapidly expanding mining sector.

"British Columbians are increasingly concerned about secure access to clean water, but this budget fast-tracks mining projects while cutting regulatory provisions that clearly exist to protect the public interest,” said Sierra Club BC Executive Director George Heyman. “There is no vision here for a sustainable economy that protects our environmental assets. Instead, we have more raw resource extraction with reduced public interest protection.”

Government’s public affairs bureau budget – at $26 million -- is now three times as big as the budget for B.C.’s environmental assessment office, which has been frozen at $8.75 million despite a significant leap in proposed mining and energy projects.

“There appears to be plenty of money for the government to spin its message, but no increased funding for environmental assessment.  New mine proposals around the province, and the environmentally questionable practice of natural gas fracking, cry out for strong measures that guarantee public and community health,” said Heyman.

Notably, B.C.’s environmental assessment process gave a green-light to the controversial “Prosperity” open pit mine at Fish Lake, a mine that was later rejected by former federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice. “And now the B.C. government wants to make it even easier for mining companies to engage in controversial road-building and drilling that will only lead to community conflict and economic uncertainty around the province,” said Heyman.

Heyman also said the government’s announcement of a one-year review of B.C.’s carbon tax sends the wrong signal at a critical time when scientists say we need immediate action to slow global warming. Read the Globe and Mail story. “Real climate leadership requires long-term commitment, not a one-time gesture,” Heyman stated. Learn more about global warming and the need for action.

Rather than starting to restore B.C.’s ailing parks system following a decade of devastating cuts, the parks budget remains static. “Investing in B.C.’s parks system would create jobs and provide B.C. families with affordable recreation activities that help children develop healthy lifestyles. If Premier Clark is serious about focusing on families, repairing our B.C. parks system would be a great place to start.”

Heyman said the B.C. government needs to follow the lead of jurisdictions like Ontario and eliminate privileged permit treatment for the mining sector by modernizing B.C.’s mineral tenure act to ensure a level playing field for all industries, and respect for community development plans and First Nations rights. Learn more.